Working with Indigenous Peoples

Jordan River Anderson was a First Nation child born with a disorder who requiring hospitalization from birth. The provincial and federal governments disagreed on the financial body responsible for Jordan’s care in a medical foster care home. Jordan remained in the hospital for five years and his condition deteriorated. He passed away in hospital before a resolution was reached. The Jordan’s Principle is a law enacted in 2007 to ensure continuity of care for First Nation children even if there is a dispute about financial responsibility. The current service provider that is caring for the child will continue to pay for necessary services until there is a resolution. If you believe you have encountered a potential Jordan’s Principle case and have not been able to resolve it at the community level, you are encouraged to contact your Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Regional Office or Health Canada Regional Office.

The Network for Aboriginal Mental Health Research
An information centre for mental health research information is based at the Culture and Mental Health Research Unit (CMHRU) of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. This makes available research tools and reports, by fax, e-mail and the Internet. The CMHRU, established in 1994 by L.J. Kirmayer, has an extensive library, reprint and video collection in Aboriginal health and culture and mental health more generally. It is also the site of a Cultural Consultation Service that provides cultural psychiatric consultation to practitioners working with the culturally diverse population of the greater Montreal area, including Aboriginal peoples.

Indigenous Mental Health is a safe place for indigenous service providers, policy makers and leaders in mental health, and their non-indigenous partners who also serve indigenous clients, to share successful practices in indigenous mental health and addictions.